Sigurd the Stout

Sigurd the Stout (965-23 April 1014) was King of Sudreyjar from 1005 to 1014, succeeding Ragnall mac Gofraid and preceding Einar Sigurdsson.

Biography
Sigurd was born in 965, and he inherited the title Jarl of Orkney from his family. He defeated an invasion by the Scottish earl Findlaech of Moray after flying the pagan raven banner, and he then took control of the Hebrides. From 985 to 989, he conquered the Isle of Man, defeating King Gofraid mac Arailt in battle. In 995, he was converted to Christianity by Olav Tryggvason, who threatened to kill him and ravage every island with fire and steel if he was not baptized. In 1004, Ragnall mac Gofraid secured the independence of the western isles from Orkney, but, on Ragnall's death in Munster in 1005, Sigurd re-established his control, and he ruled over Sudreyar until his death in 1014.